Casting apparatus



s. McFARLAND.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 13, I920.

1,418,949., tented ne 6, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET FIG I INVENTOR:

STATES SAMUEL MOFARLAND, OF COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Misses.

Specification 5f Letters Patent. P t t J e 19 2 Application filed January 13, 1920. 7 Serial No. 351,239.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MCFARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Coatesville, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a cer tain new and useful Improvement in Casting Apparatus, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accom anying drawings.

it y invention relates particularly to what are known as bottom sprue plates for ingot molds.

It is the ordinary practice to arrange such molds in groups tofacilitate the pouring of molten metal into them and, ordinarily, each such pouring group of such molds is I supported upon a single bottom sprue plate,

conveniently formed of a single, substantially square, iron casting; which single plate includes means arranged to direct the molten metal to all .of the molds in the group. For instance, a single iron casting approximately nine feet square and nine inches thick is ordinarily employed as the bottom sprue plate for a group of four .molds' for ingots twenty-one inches square;

said molds being grouped in symmetrical relation withthe four corners of said plate.

The cost of such a single cast plate is in excess of eighthundred dollars, and if it is broken in any part, the entire plate becomes worthless and must be discarded.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide a bottom sprue plate adapted to support a pouring group of ingot molds by forming the bottom sprue plate in sections which are respectively local to the individual molds but have means in common arranged to direct molten metalto all the molds in the group simultaneously; for instance, such means may include a single runner conduit common to all of said molds, and complementary channels in said separable sections, cooperatively arranged to direct molten metal from one to another.

I am aware that it is old to provide the individual molds of a pouring group with individually separable drag plates; for instance, such structures as are shown in Irelands British Letters Patent No. 263 dated January 23,1873 and in Healeys British Letters Patent No. 1788 dated May 16, 1873, and also indicated in Grifiiths Letters Patent of the United States No. 644,740 granted.

March 6, 1900. But it is characteristic of those structures that they have a single unitary bottom sprue plate common to the above contemplated, incidentto any breakage of such a bottom platen Therefore, my present invention is distinguished from those structures of the prior art as above described, and I disclaim the disclosures of said Letters Patent.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig I is a plan view of a convenient embodiment of my invention adapted to cooperate with a pouring group of eight ingot molds having a common, and centrally vertically disposed, runner conduit, through which molten metal may be poured into all of ,said molds contemporaneously.

Fig. II is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line II, II in Fig. I, and showing said central vertical runner.

Fig III shows a modified, and simpler,

form of my invention, adapted to cooperate 1 is a substantially straight vertically dis-.

posed tube, primarily open at topv and bottom;.but each mold is closed at the bottom by resting upon a sectional sprue plate which is local to it but cooperatively related to the other molds in the roup.

Said central runner 2 has t e vertical passageway 3 for molten metal and is supported by the central plate section 4 which has the central recess 5 for the central brick 6 which has the central opening 7 fregisteriug with said passageway 3 in said runner. Said plate section 4 also has four radial channels 9 respectively lined with bricks 10 having flanges 11 fitted into said central brick 6 and enclosing passageways 12 for molten metal thus radiating from said central runner. 2. The circular series of four molds 1, immediately adjoining said central runner 2, are supported. upon the series of four sectional bottom sprue plates 14, one

of which is local to each of said molds.

Said plate sections 14 are each separable from said plate section 4 but are conveniently 5 fitted in the grouped relation shown, by the interlocking engagement of flanges 15 on said central plate 4 between flanges 17 on said plates 14; whereby said sect-ions 14 are normally held in cooperative relation, in the same plane. Each of said plate sections 14 has a channel 18, extending radially with respect to said runner 2 and lined with refractory brick 20 enclosing passageway 21 for molten metal. Each of said bricks 20 has a flange 23 fitted to the adjacent brick 10, so as to cooperate therewith to direct molten metal therethrough, and each of said bricks 20 has a nozzle slot arranged to direct the molten metal therefrom into the mold 1 surrounding said brick 20 and resting u )on the respective sectional sprue late 14. iloreover, the channel 18 in eaci of said sectional sprue plates 14 also contains a brick 27 enclosing the passage 28 for plates 14 but are conveniently fitted in the grouped relation shown by the engagement of the outer ends of said plates 14 in recesses 34 in said plates 32. Said plate sections 32 have channels 35 in which said bricks 27 extend from said plate sections 14, and said bricks have flanges 36 fitted in recesses 37 in the bricks 38 which are held in recesses sageways 41 in communication with nozzle slots 42 through which the molten metal is directed to the molds 1 which rest upon said plate sections 32.

Therefore it is to be understood that the construction and arrangement above described are such that although each of said molds 1 has a sectional bottom sprue plate which is separable from the bottom sprue plates of the other molds; yet. said sections are so cooperatively connected and re lated as to form an integral structure where by all of the molds in the pouring grmip they support may he filled at one pouring of: 55 molten metal directed thereto through said central runner 2.

Of course, the sectional structure shown in Figs. I and I1 is adapted for use with groups of different numbers of molds. For

so instance, the outer series of four molds 1 may be omitted and the passageways tor molten metal radiating from said central runner 2 terminated with said bricks 20. so that the remaining structure is adapted to 65 simultaneously direct the molten metal only molten metal and having the flange :29 fitted 40 in said plate sections 32 and enclose pas:

to the innerseries of four molds. Other variations may be effected as may be convenient in reference to the number of molds and the space in which they are to be grouped. For instance. any of the sections 14, with its appurtenant section 32, may be omitted, and the passageway leading thereto shut off at the central section 4. For instance. as shown in Fig. III; two oppositely counter-part bottom plate sections 45 may have their adjacent ends recessed as indicated at 46 to receive a central brick 47, adapted to cooperate with such a central runner as indicated at 2, and each of said sections 45 may have a channel 48 lined with bricks 49. 50 and 51, each of the latter having a nozzle slot 52 through which molten metal is directed to the mold 53 supported by the respective plate section 45. Moreover. the abutting inner ends of said sections 45 may have oppositely counterpart recesses forming a channel lined with bricks 56 to direct molten metal from said central brick 47 through bricks 58 and 59. by way of the nozzle slots 60 in the latter, into molds supported upon sectional bottom sprue plates 71 having channels 72 in which the latter bricks extend.

Of course, the structure shown in Fig. III is also susceptible (if variation. For instance, either or both of said plate, sections 71 may be omitted, to'suit the convenience of the operator. and the space in which the casting operation is to be performed.

Theconstruction and arrangmeent above 100 described has numerous advantages as compared with the single unitary bottom sprue plate heretofore ordinarily employed. For instance; considered in the order in which said advantages appear. much smaller and 105 consequently, less costly, patterns may be, used to form the series of plate sections which are counterparts of each other; such sections are more readily manipulated than the single larger plate aforesaid; they may 110 be arranged in groups of differing numbers, whereas. no such variation is possible with the single unitary plate; and, if the bottom sprue plate structure shown in Fig. I, considered as a whole, is broken in any part,

only that sectional part in which the break occurs. is lost, and may be immediately replaced by another similar sectional part, not only without such loss as is incident. to. the breakage of the unitary plate aforesaid, but 20 without loss'of time inthe casting opera tion. That is to say, with reference to the last named advantage, that damage to any section of my improved structure aforesaid may be repaired without disturbing the other portions thereof and, consequently. without loss of time theretofore expended in assembling such other portions in cooperative relation with the molds.

it may be observed that it is characteristic .130

oints between the central plate 4 and the plates 14 which are radially connected therewith, as shownin Fig. .I, and said molds may similarly overlap the joints between the refractory elements as shown in Fig. I by the molds which rest upon the plates 32 and also shown by the molds in Fig. III. However, although such features of construction and arrangement are advantageous in that they integrate and stabilize the sectional structures described, I do not desire to limit all of my claims thereto.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the specific details of construction and arrangement of my invention herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

- I claim:

1. In castingi apparatus; a bottom sprue .plate for a p urality of ingot molds arranged in a single pouring group, including separable sections respectively local to the individual molds, a central section, independent of but cooperatively connected with said other sections and constructed and arranged to receive molten metal and direct it to said other sections; said sections extending in a common plane and having complementary channels for the passage of molten metal to said molds; and elements of refractory material in said channels,

bridging the joints between said sections,

and forming passageways for the molten metal; certain of said refractory elements having nozzle openings arranged to register with the respective molds mounted upon the respective sections; and a single runner conduit common to all of said molds.

2. In casting apparatus; a bottom sprue plate for a plurality of ingot molds arranged in a single pouring group, including separable sections respectively local to the individual molds. a central section, cooperatively connected with said other sections and constructed and arranged toreceive molten mctal and direct it to said other sections; said sections extending in a common plane and having complementary channels for the passage of molten metal to said molds; and elements of refractory material in said channels, bridging the joints betwiien said secmolten metal.

3. In casting apparatus; a bottom sprue plate for a plurality of ingot molds, including' separable sections respectively local to the individual molds, and a central section, cooperatively connected with said other sections, extending in the same plane with said other sectionsand constructed and arranged to receive molten metal and direct it t6 said other sections said sections having complementary channels for the passage of molten metal to said molds.

a. In casting apparatus; the combination with a central plate having an inlet for molten metal and a plurality of outlets for the same; of a series of separable plates, in.- dependent of said central plate, having means arranged for cooperative connection with said central plate, including channels for molten metal adapted to register with the outlets in said central plate.

5. In casting apparatus; the combination I -with a bottom sprue plate formed of separaable sections respectively local to t e indi vidnal molds, a central section independent of, but cooperately connected with, said other sections and constructed and arranged to receive molten metal and direct it to said other sections; said sections extending in a common plane and having complementary channels for the passage of molten metal to said molds; and elements of refractory material in said channels forming passage ways for the molten metal; certain of said refractory elements having nozzle openings arranged to register with the respective molds mounted upon the respective sections; and a single runner conduit common to all of said molds.

7. In casting apparatus; a bottom sprue plate for a plurality of ingot molds, ar-,

tively connected with said other sections,

and constructed and arranged to receive molten metal and direct it to other sections; said sections extending in a common plane and having complementary channels for the passage of molten metal to said molds; and elements of refractory material in said channels, forming passagewaysfor the mol-' ten metal. a

8. In casting apparatus; a bottom sprue plate for a plurality of ingot molds including separable sections respectively local to the individual molds, and extendingin the same plane; said sections having complementary ble sections, extending in a common plane;

complementary pouring channels in said sections; one of said sections having a laterally extending, projection engaging the adjoining section; whereby, said channels may be registered, in cooperative relation.

10. In casting apparatus; a plurality of separable bottom sprue plates, extending in a common plane. each adapted to support a single ingotmold and having a channel arranged to direct molten metal to such mold from an edge of the respective plate; said channels in the respective plates being complementary to each other; each of said plates having means to detachably engage an ad joining plate with said channels in registry with each other; whereby said plates may be assembled in a pouring group, in said co1nmon plane, so that molten metal may be conveyed through said channels from one plate other plates and may be removed and replaced without disturbance of the other plates.

11. In casting apparatus; a bottom sprue plate adapted to support a single ingot mold. independently of other molds, with said plate extending ina horizontal plane; said plate having a channel, extending from an edge thereof, arranged to conduct molten metal to such mold; said section having at its edge from which said channel extends, means arranged to independently register with another sprue plate'having a coml'ilementary channel; such registering means being sep arable by movement of either of said plates, in its plane, \vithout disturbance of the other plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Coatesville. Pennsyl- 'ania, this 24th day of November, 1919.

Witnesses Enxns'r L. BRicKsR, R. B.'SMITH. 

